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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031814014 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • grt.foundation@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Nations Foundation" <info.unaward6@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:58:42 +0100
Subject: Grant.


United Nations Foundation,
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Sir/Madam,

UN Foundation Grant.

This is to notify you that you have been chosen By the Board of
trustees of the above International (Charity & Human Developmental)
Organization, as one of the final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation
for your personal development.

The UN Foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and
philanthropist Ted Turners' historic $1 billion gift to support UN
Causes and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements
public-private partnerships to address the world?s most pressing
problems, and broadens support for the UN through advocacy and public
outreach. The UN Foundation is a public charity.

The Secretary-General established the United Nations Fund for
International Partnerships (UNFIP) in March 1998 to coordinate,
channel and monitor contributions from the UN Foundation. UNFIP is the

central administrative vehicle within the UN system to identify and
select projects for UN Foundation funding, receive and distribute UN
Foundation funds, and monitor and evaluate the use of UN Foundation
funds.

In line with the arrangements for the 10th year anniversary program
this year, the UN Foundation in conjunction with the Economic
Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations
Organization (UNO) and the European Union, is giving out a yearly
donation of Ten Million United States Dollars as specific
Donations/Grants to 100 lucky international recipients worldwide in
different categories for their personal and community development and
upliftment of their educational morale. The objective is to make a
notable change in the standard of living of people in United Nations
Member Countries.

Based on the random selection of internet Web Pages and millions of
Supermarket cash invoices worldwide you were selected among the
beneficiaries to receive the sum of US$900,000.00 (Nine Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) as developmental aid from the UN
Foundation, in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament Be
informed that the UN Foundation has been assured of highest
Organization standard courtesy of the United Nations if we can achieve

a great positive change in the general welfare of the universe through

this program.

Beneficiaries have been chosen from every UN Member Nation from all
Continents. The idea of this donation is that within ten years from
now, there will be notable wealth among many unusual people around the

world. This will give everyone the opportunity to improve their
standards of living. It?s important to note that you will only be
chosen to receive the donation once, which implies that subsequent
yearly donation will not get to you again.

The Grt Foundation, UK has been appointed to oversee this development
affair.

You are required to expeditiously Contact the Executive Secretary of
The Grt Foundation with the details below for documentation and
processing of the release of your cash aid, between the hours of
8.00am - 7.00pm on Monday through Saturday.Please endeavor to quote
your Qualification numbers (UNI/Grt-816-1119 G-987-94) in all
discussions.

Executive Secretary: Grt Foundation, UK - Hassen Usman

Email: *grt.foundation@gmail.com*<http://mail.google.com/mc/compose?to=grt.foundation@gmail.com>Telephone:
+44 703-181-4014

Please note that the release of your cash aid/donations is to be
administered by The Grt Foundation, UK under delegated powers from
the UN Foundation. You are hereby advised to keep this whole
information confidential until your donations have been duly remitted
to you. There have been many cases of double and unqualified claim,
due to beneficiaries divulging details of donations to third parties.

On behalf of the Board,

faithfully,

frank Hunter
Unit Coordinator
UN WORLD GRANT DEPT.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam